VP Sara says running mate still undecided, seeks to 'protect' potential 2028 tandem

Vice President Sara Duterte has confirmed that discussions are ongoing with her prospective running mate for the 2028 presidential elections but added that the latter has yet to make a decision.

In an interview Tuesday in Iligan City, Duterte declined to disclose further details, saying she wants to protect her potential running mate from possible political attacks.

“Hindi ko muna pag-uusapan ‘yung running mate, sir, dahil meron akong nire-recruit. Hindi pa siya nakapag-decision. So kailangan natin siya protektahan. Dahil baka siya na naman ‘yung aatakihin at sisirain ang pangalan. So let's protect ... his or her privacy para sila ay makapagdesisyon,” she said during an interview in Iligan City.

(I will not talk about my running mate yet because I am recruiting someone. That person has not made a decision. So we need to protect them. They might be attacked and their name destroyed. So let’s protect his or her privacy so they can decide properly.)

The Vice President made the remarks while visiting flood-affected communities in the city.

When asked whether political parties or groups have reached out to discuss possible alliances following her announcement that she intends to run for president in 2028, Duterte said none so far.

“Kaluoy sa Ginoo, wala. Nag-inusara lang gihapon si Sara.”

(By God’s mercy, none. Sara remains alone.)

Her statement indicates that formal coalition-building for her 2028 bid has yet to take shape.

Duterte also brushed off questions about specific tandem combinations being floated publicly.

“Unsa mana? Gi-ingnan na unya nana.”

(What is that? We’ll talk about that later.)

Meanwhile, when asked about reports that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. met with former Vice President Leni Robredo in Naga City over the weekend, and that Robredo later visited Malacañang, Duterte gave a brief response:

“Good luck.”

(Good luck.)

She did not elaborate on whether she believes the meetings were connected to possible political alignments ahead of the 2028 elections.

2028 bid announcement

On February 18, Duterte announced that she will run for president in the 2028 national elections.

In her earlier speech, she cited what she describes as the administration’s failures, including continued flooding, rising prices of basic goods, food insecurity, weak healthcare systems, deteriorating infrastructure, and the persistence of crime, illegal drugs, and terrorism.

She also criticized what she calls the absence of a clear and independent foreign policy, warning that the country risks being caught between global superpowers.

The Vice President said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. failed to fulfill campaign promises and sworn duties.

Duterte previously stepped down from her Cabinet post, saying she could not support what she described as a 2025 national budget “tainted with corruption.” She also claimed she anticipated that her resignation could eventually lead to impeachment efforts against her. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News